Everything Everywhere All at Once Movie Review and Hidden Meaning

This post may contain spoilers.

Everything Everywhere All at Once is a 2022 Sci-Fi/Adventure film produced by the Russo Brothers. A less direct and more thought-provoking film, Everything Everywhere All at Once challenges the ideals of morality and is keen on challenging the viewers’ thoughts on nihilism and how “nothing matters”.

Nihilism is the belief that life is meaningless and the rejection of all moral and religious principles.

Evelyn

A laundromat owner, Evelyn, played by Michelle Yeoh, is in a crisis. She feels that her life could have been much much more than just “doing laundry and taxes”. Her relationship with her daughter, Joy, played by Stephanie Hsu, is broken and she finds it hard to deal with Joy being a lesbian. Evelyn and her husband, Waymond’s relationship has also been going through a rough patch. Even more, they live with her elderly father on top of the laundromat and her life is messy and all over the place.

Doing Taxes

Evelyn and Waymond, played by Ke Huy Qwan, have to go to the IRS for a tax audit and explain some of the unusual business expenses on their books. There they are audited by Deidre, an IRS auditor. Evelyn and Waymond take her father Gong Gong there since he is in a wheelchair and cannot be left alone. Things, however, take a turn for the supernatural when she is in the elevator.

The Alphaverse

Waymond quickly shifts into his other self, ‘Alpha Waymond’ who is another version of him from another universe named ‘Alphaverse’. Waymond tells her that the multiple universes are in danger from a being who’s seeking to destroy everything. Alpha Waymond quickly catches Evelyn up to the craziness of the multiple universes, and she shifts in and out of this and other universes the more she learns how to ‘verse jump’.

Evil Deidre

Her IRS auditor Deidre is a monster in another universe. She is a follower of Jobu Putaki, a verse jumper whose mind fragmented after Evelyn from the Alphaverse pushed her to explore the limits of her abilities. Alpha Waymond tells her that Jobu Putaki is out to destroy everything in the universe and that Evelyn is the only one who can stop her.

She is Not Like Everyone Else

From the start, Alpha Waymond is persistent that the Evelyn from this universe is the only version that is strong enough to fight Jobu Putaki. Evelyn has to juggle the craziness of the several universes and sees different versions of her life and how they could have turned out. Alpha Waymond tells her that they verse jump as a way to gain the skills of their other versions from other universes. They also gain the memories of their other versions and their experiences.

The Temptations of the Other Universes

The temptations of other universes are huge. For instance, in another universe where she does not leave her childhood home to be with Waymond, she ends up as a kung-fu fighter and later actor who ends up becoming a huge movie star. Evelyn is tempted by this version and even goes as far as to tell Waymond that he held her down and is the reason she didn’t do anything meaningful with her life.

Divorce

Waymond, the normal Waymond from this universe, issues divorce papers to Evelyn. He feels that their marriage is breaking apart and that it is so palpable that he can see it in the way she looks at him.

Jobu Putaki

Jobu Putaki’s mind is fragmented and breaks after she goes to the extremes of her verse jumping. Due to this fragmentation, she can shift through all her versions in quick succession and simultaneously. Therefore, she experiences Everything Everywhere All at Once. She is ruthless and Evelyn later discovers that she is her daughter Joy from other universes. According to Alpha Waymond, Evelyn has to destroy her to protect the world and she struggles with that.

Saving Joy

Instead of destroying Jobu Putaki, Evelyn decides to save her and save her daughter Joy in the process. Instead of fighting to destroy, Joy borrows the example of her husband Waymond, and fights by doing good.

Fighting via Doing Good

Waymond always tries to be the best he can be and despite difficulties chooses to be good and kind. That is his way of ‘fighting’ and that is how he gets through the difficulties of life. Evelyn borrows from this and chooses to fight with good and instead of destroying, she opts to do good. As such, she chooses to try and save her daughter Joy and not destroy Jobu Putaki.

What Jobu Putaki Really Wanted

As it turns out, what Jobu Putaki really wanted wasn’t to destroy the world. No. She was looking for someone like her, someone who could experience the world as she does. Someone to share these experiences with. As such, she and Evelyn form a bond. In the end, they conclude that nothing matters and Evelyn signs the divorce papers and lets her daughter Joy go and live her life the way she wants.

The Hidden Meaning of Everything Everywhere All at Once

It’s the People that Really Matter

Everything Everywhere All at Once has a simple message. It is the people that matter in life. It doesn’t matter what you do, where you live, or at what point you are in your life. It is the people that matter. It is your family, love, and you that matter. Nothing else matters. Everything else is neither here nor there.

Nothing Matters

Nothing really matters in life. It is only the people that do. It is only your family, loved ones, and yourself that matter. The jobs, taxes, everyday problems, and so on, don’t matter. As such, forget the idea of significance and meaning in anything and everything and concentrate on yourself and the people in your life.

Your Life is As It is Supposed to Be; You Are Just Where You Need to Be

Perhaps the most important part of Everything Everywhere All at Once’s hidden meaning is that you are where you are supposed to be. Your life is as it is supposed to be and you are just where you need to be. There is no alternate life you could have lived, what you chose to do and not do, is what is your path and your destiny/fate, for lack of a better word.

You Shouldn’t Judge Because Nothing is Wrong and Nothing is Right

The other hidden meaning of Everything Everywhere All at Once is that you shouldn’t judge anyone for how they are living their life. The reason is that nothing is wrong and nothing is right. Everyone, therefore, has the right to choose what to do and how to live their life. For example, Evelyn later realizes that her daughter should not be judged for being gay or for choosing to have tattoos or any of that. Instead, she should just love her as she is without thinking too much about such things.

Our Rating

Everything Everywhere All at Once is such a marvel. It can, however, be a little puzzling and is one of those Quentin Terentino-like movies that could leave you a little puzzled. Even so, we thoroughly enjoyed the movie for its fun, bizarre, hilarious, and sometimes outlandish moments. We rate it 7.5/10 for being so memorable and having such a deep and hidden meaning.

FAQs

Where Can I Watch Everything Everywhere All at Once?

You can watch Everything Everywhere All at Once on Prime Video, Netflix, and Showtime.

Is Everything Everywhere All at Once a Flop?

Not at all. The movie grossed $103.5 million despite a slim budget of $14.3 million. That was a huge success. The movie also broke Hollywood norms as huge stars such as Michelle Yeoh were willing to play a role in such a low-budget movie; breaking the belief that only big-budget films can do well or attract big stars. The movie also led to challenges for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) whose movies don’t usually do very well despite huge budgets.

What was the Message of Everything Everywhere All at Once?

The message of Everything Everywhere All at Once was simply “nothing matters”. The movie challenges morality and its tenets and provokes thoughts on nihilism. Essentially, it underlines the meaninglessness of life.

Is Everything Everywhere All at Once on Netflix?

Yes. Everything Everywhere All at Once is available on Netflix.

Who Directed Everything Everywhere All at Once?

Everything Everywhere All at Once was directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert.

Who Produced Everything Everywhere All at Once?

The movie was produced by the Russo Brothers, Anthony and Joe Russo, Mike Larocca, and Jonathan Wang.